Midtjylland 1 - 1 Club Brugge: FC Midtjylland progress after draw with Club Brugge

Posted Friday, December 11, 2015 by PA

Danish champions FC Midtjylland moved into the Europa League round of 32 after a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge proved enough to seal runners-up spot in Group D.

The Herning-based club knew that a draw would be enough, as long as unbeaten Italian giants Napoli did not come unstuck against Legia Warsaw.

And so it proved, with Napoli's 5-2 victory ensuring that Midtjylland progressed, despite having to withstand a fierce Brugge finale.

Pione Sisto put the home side ahead, but Jelle Vossen's 68th-minute equaliser set up a dominant closing period for the Belgian side, although they could not add a second, despite Vossen going close.

The first 45 minutes proved a nervous affair with neither team creating many clear-cut openings, so it was no surprise when the opening goal after 27 minutes had an element of the unexpected about it, with Midtjylland going ahead courtesy of Sisto's attempted cross that dropped over Brugge goalkeeper Sebastien Bruzzese and into the net.

Brugge coach Michel Preud'homme made a change for the second period, sending on Lior Refaelov for Felipe Gedoz, and Refaelov proved to be a consistent threat to the Midtjylland defence as Brugge suddenly found an edge to their attacking game.

Home goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen had to be sharp to keep out a Davy De Fauw header, then Vossen went close before he timed his run perfectly to head past Andersen and set up a tense finale.

There was no end to Brugge's onslaught as a Victor Vazquez shot found the side netting before Vossen had Andersen scrambling, but when Stefano Denswil sent a free-kick over the bar during the closing seconds, Midtjylland could finally breathe easily and look forward to taking their place in Monday's draw.